There's nothing quite as cool-looking(temperaturewise) as BLUE flowers. I grew Phacelia a few years ago, best blue i ever saw, next to cornflowers. The bell-shaped blue flowers with icy-white anthers were beautiful, and stirred up images of cooler weather. They do have a short bloom time, hot weather just about stops the show, cutting back helps somewhat. Give 'em a try, i believe there are 2 or 3 varieties. Good luck, and enjoy.

frdnicholas - You will get much more expert advice than mine from some other folks here, as also being a relatively new Albuquerquean, I have been amazed at the knowledge of some folks on this board local to this area. At any event, you asked about what zone # we are in. And truly, the best way I think I can explain what I have learned regarding zones in Albuquerque is that really, you have to realize that it is more prudent to consider the city in thoughts of two zones, rather than just one. If you live in a valley area - North or South Valley or Corrales area, etc. (anything lower and near the Rio Grande) - or, in the Foothills area from Juan Tabo or especially Tramway east, you probably would be most prudent to consider yourself in a zone 6 or 6b area (maybe 7-like on more mild years)...nightimes in the Valley areas or in the Foothills can get significantly colder than in the other parts of the city. (Should note though, that while Valley temps are colder at night, they typically do get a bit hotter in the daytime as well). However, if you are in the Heights areas of Albuquerque, or on the West Side, you can more consider yourself in a solid zone 7b area. Again, more mild years in this area bump it more at selected times to more of a zone 8a, and there are thermal belt areas such as by UNM that are more common to an 8a annually. But probably a safe, general rule would be a 6 or 6b in the Valley, and a 7b in the Heights or West Side. As for vegetables to plant, again, other folks on here will give you much more solid info, however, I do know that tomatoes and peppers (2 of the 4 you mentioned) do generally do very well in Albuquerque. (A somewhat unrelated side-note...I live in the NE Heights and have a Georgia peach tree, and already as of last week - not even March yet - it is budding its blossoms extensively...with proper care, you will enjoy growing things here!)... Best of success!

I received a surprise today from Chris (grolikecrazy)! Thank you. :) The plain letter envelope had holes in it- looks like it was damaged in transit. There was no bubble wrap or other padding inside of it to cushion the seeds. Seeds sent to me with no bubbles almost always do get destroyed like this, because the PO runs mail through some hard metal rollers unless it's in a bubble mailer marked FRAGILE in big red letters. :( The Dianthus barbatus seeds were about 75% destroyed and the Red Noodle Yard Long Bean seeds were completely dust. Thank you grolikecrazy, for kindly sending to me. I can still sow the few Dianthus seeds that made it, and hopefully get some plants! Excited about that. :) I'm sorry this happened, Chris. You were so kind to send seeds to me. I'm very glad you were thinking of me, and some of the Dianthus seeds do appear to be usable. It made my day to receive this, even if it is just a few seeds. : ) Thanks, Grovespirit Wondering why the surprises I mailed out haven't shown up here yet. I do hope they didn't get lost in the mail.

I'm with the stones-and ground cover crowd. I'd use big squares of bluestone or a concrete paver you like, plant vinca minor (the dark green small-leaved periwinkle), put in tons of daffodil bulbs to come up through it in the spring and be gone by the time you have to do maintenance, and mulch heavily so you can be patient for the two or three seasons it takes for the periwinkle to make a dense, thick mat. Absolutely worth the wait. And then, because the area doesn't go anywhere, I'd put an exterior grade full length mirror on the back skinny wall, surround it with natural trellising, plant a vine to cover it eventually (not ivy - a huge headache to control), and set a big birdbath just in front of the mirror. The mirror solves the dead-end problem and throws the light around a bit, the vine and trellis furnish and mask the wall, the birdbath gives you a focal point, the vinca is deep and soft, and the big stepping stones give the space some scale and a comfortable surface to walk down and to support the tasks of maintenance. A large-scale edited scheme like this would give your skinny little alleyway some real presence. It's a perfect "go big or go home" situation!